Apparatus for cold rolling grating workstock

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cold forming grating material from elongated, generally flat workstock, comprising a generally cylindrically shaped element having a series of outwardly directed projections thereon, means for rotatably supporting the element, guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with the element whereby rotation thereof will cause the projections to be forced into the adjacent portion of the workstock to form a series of adjacently oriented, inwardly extending recesses or notched portions therein, and means including roller means for straightening and flattening the workstock after the series of notches are formed therein.

United States Patent Tishken [4 1 Apr. 4, 1972 APPARATUS FOR COLD ROLLING GRATING WORKSTOCK [72] Inventor: Paul Tishken, Birmingham, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Tishken Products Co., Detroit, Mich.

[22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1969 21 Appl. No.: 814,292

[52] U.S.Cl ..72/l87,72/l97, 72/198 [51] ..B2lh 8/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..72/l84, 196,197, 198, 187, 72/191, 194; 29/160 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,746 1/1888 Harris ..72/198 1,773,836 8/1930 Woelfel 2,911,865 11/1959 Brickman 1,636,592 7/1927 Cushwa ..29/160 1,678,362 7/1928 Sloan ..29/160 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,072,925 6/1967 Great Britain ..72/197 Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Attorney-Harness, Dickey & Pierce [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for cold forming grating material from elongated, generally flat workstock, comprising a generally cylindrically shaped element having a series of outwardly directed projections thereon, means for rotatably supporting the element, guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with the element whereby rotation thereof will cause the projections to be forced into the adjacent portion of the workstock to form a series of adjacently oriented, inwardly extending recesses or notched portions therein, and means including roller means for straightening and flattening the workstock after the series of notches are formed therein.

18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 4 I972 3,653,245

sum 1 or 3 11v VENTOH TTORNE Y PATENTEDAFR 4 1972 653.245

sum 3 or 3 IN VEN TOR 73/1 Yid/P/razr A TTORNEY APPARATUS FOR COLD ROLLING GRATING WORKSTOCK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Grating structures, such as are commonly utilized in fire escapes, sidewalk and sewer grates and the like, consist of a grid of spaced parallel metal strips arranged on edge and oriented such that a certain number of the strips are disposed at approximately right angles to others thereof, with any suitable joint being provided at the intersection of the series of strips. While such grating constructions have been found extremely useful for many applications, it has been found desirable to provide the upper sides thereof with a non-skid surface to minimize the possibility of a person inadvertently slipping or sliding thereon in the event water, ice, snow or the like accumulates on the upper side of the grates. While a number of so-called non-skid surface designs have been heretofore proposed to obviate such slipping and/or sliding problems, it has been found that one of the most effective non-skid surfaces can be achieved by forming a series of notches or recessed portions along the upper edges of the strips making up a grating structure, which notches provide or define a plurality of biting edges arranged transversely of the strips and adapted to increase the frictional characteristics between the upper side of the structure and, for example, the sole of the shoe, boot or the like of a person walking thereon.

In order to provide the aforesaid notches or recessed portions in the strip-like grating workstock which constitute the majority of grating structures, it has heretofore been the practice to pass pre-heated strips of workstock through or adjacent a reciprocating cutter or die which function to cut a series of longitudinally spaced notches or recesses in the material. While this procedure has been found to be the best available technique for forming the non-skid notches in the workstock, such a technique has been objectionable for a number of reasons. First of all, such a procedure produces vast quantities of metal chips which, for most purposes, are waste material that cause considerable problems in handling and disposition, to say nothing of the expenses involved in the wasted material itself. Another objectionable feature of the above described method of forming the notches or recesses in the grating workstock resides in the expenses involved in heating the workstock preparatory to subjecting the same to the reciprocating notch forming die or cutting tool.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a new and improved apparatus is provided for forming grating material which is provided with the aforesaid non-skid notches or recessed portions along either one or both edges thereof. More particularly, the present invention utilizes a cold rolling operation consisting of passing the strip grating material adjacent a rotatable tool having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, outwardly projecting portions adapted to be forced inwardly into the workstock and thereby form the notches or recessed portions therein, the workstock thereafter passing through an associated straightening and flattening means to remove any eccentricities or curvatures in the workstock that may be produced upon forming the notches therein. Such a cold forming operation has been found to be a considerable advance over the above described practice of forming the notches by means of initially pre-heating the workstock and thereafter subjecting the same to the action of a reciprocating cutting tool or die, since the cold forming technique entirely obviates the production of any metal chips, the ancillary problems of disposing of such chips, as well as the need for heating the workstock prior to forming the notches therein.

Certain additional advantages of the present invention reside in the fact that the notched or recessed grating workstock produced in accordance therewith will be found to be substantially stronger as a result of the cold rolling operation, as compared with similar workstock that has heretofore been produced by initially heating the workstock and thereafter cutting the notches therein with a reciprocating tool. It is estimated that the structural integrity of the workstock is increased as much as 10-20 percent as a result of the cold rolling operation, which permits the use of a smaller number of strips of grating material to support a given load per unit of area. Moreover, as a result of the cold forming operation, the workstock has been found to be elongated as much as approximately 1 inch per foot, with the result that a given length of strip workstock will produce an even greater length of grating workstock as a result of the notches or recesses being formed therein pursuant to the teachings of the present invention. Additionally, the actual formation of the non-skid notches can be performed at a considerably fast rate than has been posible with heretofore known and used methods, thereby substantially increasing the production rate of such grating workstock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a new and improved apparatus for fabricating metal workstock and, more particularly, to a new and improved method of fabricating metal grating material.

It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for forming grating workstock.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for cold rolling non-skid notches or recessed portions along the edges of elongated strips of grating workstock.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character which includes a rotatable element having outwardly extending projections adapted to be forced into the workstock, thereby cold forming the notches or recesses therein.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the above character adapted to form a series of non-skid notches or recessed portions simultaneously along the laterally opposite edges of the workstock.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for cold forming grating workstock which includes means for flattening, straightening and automatically cutting off preselected lengths of the workstock subsequent to the non-skid notches or recessed portions being formed therein. 1

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved apparatus of the above character which includes means for adjusting the relative positions of the notch forming tool and grating workstock so as to evenly distribute wear along the notch forming element.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide av new and improved apparatus of the above character which is of a relatively simple design, is economical to manufacture and will have a long and durable operational life.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a typical grating structure adapted to be manufactured in accordance with the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevated perspective view of a portion of the grating structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of a portion of the apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the portion of the apparatus of the present invention located at the right end of the structure shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the notch forming element and associated drive means incorporated in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view, partially schematic, of the notch fonning element and associated back up roller and guide rollers incorporated in the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical grate structure 10 which may be provided with an external frame or the like 12 and comprises a series of spaced parallel strips of grating workstock, generally designated 14, which strips 14 are arranged in perpendicularly oriented transverse and longitudinally arranged rows which intersect, via lap joints or the like, as best seen in FIG. 2.

The strips of grating workstock 14, in a typical construction of the grate structure 10, are fabricated of cold rolled steel or the like and are provided with a series of adjacently oriented inwardly projecting notches or recessed portions, generally designated 16 that function to enhance the frictional characteristics of the upper surface of the structure 10 whereby to provide a non-skid surface upon which people may traverse without slipping, falling or otherwise endangering themselves. The present invention deals particularly with a new and improved apparatus for forming the non-skid notches, as will hereinafter be described in detail.

Generally speaking, the present invention utilizes a feeding station 18 which provides a source of the grating workstock 14 to be notched, a notch forming station 20 into which the workstock 14 is fed and which performs the notch forming operations hereinafter to be described, a workstock straightening and flattening station, generally designated 22, adapted to receive the workstock 14 from the station 20, and finally a workstock cut-off station 24 which takes the workstock 14 after it has been straightened and flattened via the station 22 and cuts it off into pre-selected segmental lengths preparatory to assembly thereof into a suitable grate structure such as the structure 10.

Referring now in detail to the workstock notching station 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the station 20 is provided with a suitable drive motor or the like 26, that may be energized by any suitable source of electrical or hydraulic power, and has an output shaft 28 that is drivingly connected through a suitable gear box or transmission 30 and shaft 32 to a pinion gear 34. The gear 34 is meshingly engaged with a primary drive gear 36 which is mounted at one end of a drive shaft 38 that is rotatably supported by a suitable antifriction means (not shown) in an appropriate support structure, representatively designated by the numeral 40. The end of the shaft 38 opposite that which is connected to the gear 36 is provided with a suitable worm gear 42 that is drivingly engaged to an associated drive gear 44 which is mounted on the lower end of a generally vertically disposed shaft 46. The support structure 40 may be of any suitable construction adapted to support the various gears 34, 36, 42 and 44, as well as the shafts 28, 32, 38 and 46 in an efiicient, compact and operative configuration.

The shaft 46 is adapted to rotatably support a generally cylindrically shaped notch forming element 48 which is adapted to perform a cold rolling or working operation upon the grating workstock l4 and thereby form the series of nonskid notches 16 therein. More particularly, the element 48 comprises a generally cylindrically shaped body section 50 defining a central vertically extending bore 52 within which the upper end of the shaft 46 is received and drivingly connected to the element 48. The outer periphery of the element 48 is formed with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced, vertically or axially extending outwardly directed notched forming projections or rib-like teeth 54 which preferably extend along the entire length of the element 48. Preferably, the axial length (height) of the element 48 is several times the thickness of the workstock 14, for purposes later to be described. As best seen in FIG. 6, the notch forming teeth 54, in transverse section, are generally trapezoid-shaped and have a generally axially extending outer surface portion 56 and inwardly diverging face portions 58 and 60. As will be described in detail, in operation of the notch forming station 20, the teeth 54 are adapted to peripherally engage one edge of the grating workstock 14 and thereby cold form the notches 16 therein.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, disposed adjacent the notch forming element 48 is a back-up roller assembly, generally designated 62, which comprises a suitable support structure having upper and lower sections 64 and 66 adapted to support a suitable rotatable shaft 68 in generally spaced parallel relation with respect to the shaft 46. The shaft 68 is provided with a back-up roller member 70 which is generally cylindrically shaped and defines an annular, radially inwardly extending guide recess 72 around an intermediate portion thereof. The axial width of the recess 72 is adapted to be slightly greater than the thickness of the workstock 14, whereby one edge of the workstock 14 may be received therein and thereby guided in peripheral relation with respect to the notching forming element 48, as shown in FIG. 6. It will be seen that the shaft 68' is spaced radially away from the shaft 46 a preselected distance such that the space between the radially innermost portion of the recess 72 and the outer periphery of the body section 50 of the element 48 is approximately equal to the width of the workstock 14, so as to assure that the workstock 14 will be positively peripherally engaged with the element 48 as the notches 16 are formed therein by the teeth 54.

A particular feature of the above invention resides in the fact that means may be provided on either one or both of the shafts 46, 68 for moving the roller assembly 62 and/or element 48 axially of its respective supporting shaft. Such means may be provided by one or more large washers or spacing discs 74 disposed between the upper and lower ends of the assembly 62 and element 48 and the adjacent support structure rotatably supporting the shafts 46, 68. The purpose of such a design is to permit the workstock 14 to selectively peripherally engage the element 48 at different axial positions thereon, whereby to equalize tool wear after continued use of the apparatus of the present invention. More particularly, it will be seen that if one or more spacers are provided beneath the lower side of the assembly 62 and/or above the element 48, the annular guide recess 72 will be located relatively closer to the upper end of the element 48, whereby when the workstock 14 is passed interjacent the recess 72 and element 48, it will peripherally engage the element 48 adjacent the upper end thereof. Similarly, if one or more of the spacing discs 74 are provided adjacent the upper end of the roller member 70 and/or at the lower end of the element 48, the annular guide recess 72 will be axially disposed relatively closer to the lower end of the element 48 so that as the workstock 14 is guided thereby, it will be engaged with the lower end of the element 48. Thus, by properly incrementally axially adjusting or positioning the assembly 62 and/or element 48 along the shafts 68, 46 through proper selection and periodic changing of the spacing discs 74, the workstock 14 can be made to engage the element 48 at different axial locations thereon so that relatively uniform wear of the element 48 may be achieved, thus maximizing tool life.

It will be apparent, of course, that various alternate means may be used for selectively adjusting the axial relationship or relative axial positioning of the annular guide recess 72 with respect to the element 48, such as by providing some type of axial adjustment means on the shafts 46, 68, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In a preferred construction of the present invention, two pair of guide rollers 76, 78 and 80, 82 are provided adjacent the forward and rearward sides of the element 48 and roller assembly 62, which guide rollers are provided upon suitable vertically extending shafts 84, 86 and 88, 90, respectively, whereby to assure proper orientation of the workstock 14 as it passes toward and away from engagement with the notch forming element 48. If desired, one or more of the pairs of rollers 76, 78 or 80, 82 may be rotatably driven whereby to push or pull the workstock 14 through the notch forming station 20.

Also, such rollers 76-82 may be formed with radially inwardly extending recesses such as the guide recess 72 to assist in axially aligning the workstock 14 with respect to the element 48, provided, however, that such guide recesses do not impair relative axial positioning of either the element 48 or back-up roller assembly 62 pursuant to the above described feature minimizing tool wear on the element 48. If desired, horizontally disposed rollers (not shown) may be provided adjacent the guide rollers 76, 78 and 80, 82 for positioning the workstock 14 axially of the element 48.

Referring now to the construction of the workstock feeding station 18, as best seen in FIG. 4, the station 18 comprises a base or support structure 92 adapted to support an upwardly extending pedestal 94 upon which a suitable horizontally disposed support shaft 96 is mounted. The shaft 96 is adapted to support a suitable reel or coil of the workstock 14, representatively designated by the numeral 98, and be provided with suitable radially outwardly projecting coil supporting arms 100 adapted to operatively support the workstock roll or coil 98, for example, in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,024, issued Feb. 20, 1962 to the applicant. Suitable braking or clutching means may be provided in the feeding station 18 for preventing rotational momentum of the workstock coil 98 from building up upon rotation thereof, and thereby control selective feeding of the workstock 14 into the notch forming station 20.

After the workstock 14 has been conveyed from the feeding station 18 into the station 20, wherein the series of notches or recessed portions 16 are formed therein, the workstock 14 progresses or is conveyed to the straightening and flattening station 22 which may be of any suitable conventional construction and preferably comprises one or more longitudinally spaced workstock flattening assemblies, generally designated 102, that are supported on a generally horizontally extending support surface 104 defined by a suitable support or base structure 106. Each of the assemblies 102 comprises suitable roller support means, generally designated 108, adapted to operatively support upper and lower cooperative pairs of rollers 110 and 112, respectively, for rotation about vertically spaced, horizontally extending support shafts or the like (not shown). Suitable means, representatively designated 113, is preferably provided for selectively adjusting the relative proximate positions of the upper rollers 110 with respect to the lower rollers 112 of each of the assemblies 102, whereby to selectively control and adjust the applied pressure exerted by the rollers 110, 112 upon the workstock 14 which passes therebetween in order to effect flattening of the workstock 14, as is well known in the art.

Disposed adjacent the outlet sides of the flattening assemblies 102 are a plurality of workstock edging assemblies 114 which may be of any suitable construction and are preferably provided with laterally spaced pairs of rollers 116 rotatable upon vertical extending axes and adapted to have the workstock 14 pass therebetween so as to apply laterally inwardly directed forces thereon to control the conformation or shape of the laterally opposite edges thereof, as is well known in the roll forming art. The need for such edging assemblies 114 results primarily from the fact that the original coil 98 of workstock 14 is frequently considerably wider than the strips that are subjected to the notch forming operations, and that the edges of the strips of workstock become out of square when they are cut from the original coils 98, thereby necessitating the assemblies 114 for cold forming the workstock 14 into the desired symmetrical or rectangular configuration.

In a preferred construction of the present invention, the end of the support structure 106 adjacent the notching forming station is provided with suitable guide roller assembly 118 comprising a pair of horizontally extending, vertically spaced rollers 120 adapted to guide the workstock 14 as it passes from the station 20 into the adjacent flattening assembly 102. Disposed at the opposite end of the support structure 106 from the assembly 118 is a workstock straightening assembly 122 comprising an elevated support structure 124 adapted to operatively support a plurality of horizontally extending upper rollers 126. The assembly 122 also comprises a lower roller support structure 128 which supports a plurality of lower rollers 130 that are spaced below and in staggered relation with respect to the upper rollers 126, as is illustrated in FIG. 3. The construction and operation of the workstock straightening assembly 122 is well known in the art and a detailed description thereof will be omitted for purposes of simplicity of disclosure, it being apparent that the workstock 14 is designed to pass between the upper rollers 126 and lower rollers 130 and thereby be accurately straightened as a result of the interaction of the rollers 126, 130 thereon.

Disposed adjacent the assembly 122 is a workstock cut-off assembly, generally designated 132, which is adapted to have the workstock 14 pass therethrough and be cut into segmental sections of predetermined length. The assembly 132 may be of any suitable construction, such as the construction described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,111,054, issued Nov. 19, 1963 to the applicant, although various alternate constructions will be apparent to the skilled artisian. After the workstock passes through the assembly 132, it passes between a pair of extraction rollers 134 and 136 which may be suitably powered so as to pull the segmental sections of the workstock 14 away from the cutoff assembly 132 at a relatively faster rate than the workstock 14 is conveyed thereto, whereby to prevent any interference between successive workpieces being cutoff by the assembly 132. From the extraction rollers 134, 136, the segments of workstock 14 are adapted to pass onto a run-off table, generally designated 138, which is supported adjacent the end of the support structure 106 by suitable support pedestals 140. The run-off table 138 may be provided with suitable means for periodically dumping or otherwise transferring a plurality of workstock sections thereon onto an appropriate conveyor assembly, pallet or other workstock transferring medium after a preselected number of sections have accumulated on the table 138, as is well known in the art.

In operation, assuming the initial condition that the drive motor 26 is energized and that the straightening and flattening station 22 is properly energized, for example through suitable manually actuatable controls 142, workstock 14 is initially unreeled from the coil 98 and is passed between the guide rollers 76, 78. Thereafter, the workstock 14 passes between the notch forming element 48 and the back-up roller assembly 62, whereby the series of longitudinally spaced notches 16 are cold formed in the workstock 14 as the projections 54 are successively forced inwardly into the adjacent lateral edge of the workstock 14. As the projections 54 thus produce the notches 16, a certain amount of metal adjacent each of the notches 16 cold flows or is displaced above and below the workstock 14 at each of the notches 16, with the result that there is a certain increase in the overall thickness of the workstock 14 around the edge of each of the notches 16. Moreover, as a result of forming the notches 16 along one lateral side of the workstock 14, the workstock 14 tends to assume a somewhat curvalinear configuration.

After the workstock 14 passes between the element 48 and back-up roller assembly 62, it passes between the guide rollers 80, 82 and thereafter between the rollers and through the straightening and flattening station 22. As the workstock 14 passes through the station 22, it alternately passes through the flattening assemblies 102 and the edging assemblies 1 14, whereby the aforesaid curvalinear shape is removed and the enlarged thickness portions of the workstock 14 at the notches I 16 are flattened or removed. Finally, the workstock 14 passes between the straightening rollsers 126, which function to straighten the workstock along the plane of the major width thereof, at which time the workstock 14 passes through the cut-off assembly 132 and extraction rollers 134, 136, whereby the workstock 14 is cut into segmental sections that are transferred to the run-off table 138. After a certain number of sections of the workstock 14 have accumulated on the table 138, the same will be actuated to dispose the workstock sections onto suitable conveyor, pallet truck or the like.

FlGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein a series of the notches 16 are adapted to be formed along both lateral side edges of the workstock 14 instead of along only one side thereof, as was the case with the workstock l4 processed by the apparatus shown in FIGS. and 6. In order to accomplish forming the notches 16 along both edges of the workstock 14, the back-up roller assembly 62 is replaced with a notch forming element 48' which may be identical in construction and operation to the hereinabove described element 48 and may be suitably driven by a suitable drive means, representatively designated by the numeral 144, which may be identical in construction and operation to the drive means provided by the drive motor 26, transmission 30, and gears 34, 36, 42 and 44, or any other suitable drive mechanism. The notch forming elements 48, 48' may be rotatably positioned so as to form the notches 16 along each side of the workstock 14 so that the notches 16 are laterally aligned, or alternatively, staggered or alternated, as is shown in FIG. 7, depending upon the particular type of grating structure desired. A particular feature resulting from the simultaneous forming of the notches 16 along both sides of the workstock 14, as compared with forming the notches 16 along only one side thereof, resides in the elimination of the curved configuration that the workstock l4 assumes when the notches 16 are formed on one side thereof, thereby obviating the need for subsequently laterally straightening the workstock 14.

It will be seen from the above described construction of the present invention that a new and improved method and apparatus is provided for cold rolling non-skid notches within elongated or strip grating workstock. A particular feature of the present invention resides in the elimination of the formation and subsequent handling of metallic chips which were abundantly produced in the production of grating material on conventional reciprocal cutting machines. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need for pre-heating the workstock preparatory to cutting the non-skid notches therein. Also of importance is the fact that cold rolling the notches 16 in the workstock 14, as well as the cold working of the workstock 14 as the same is subjected to the straightening, flattening and edging operations, has been found to considerably strengthen the workstock and effect a certain amount of elongation thereof. Accordingly, the grating workstock produced in accordance with the present invention will be capable of supporting a greater load than has heretofore been possible with conventionally manufactured grating material, and a greater amount of grating workstock will be produced for a given amount of workstock utilized. Another feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the notch forming element 48 (48') and associated back-up roller assembly 62 may be selectively axially positioned relative to one another, whereby to reduce wear of the element 48 to a minimum. Moreover, by designing the element 48 such that it is of a relatively massive (thick) construction, said element will be extremely strong and not be subjected to chipping or other attrition. Additionally, the relative shape and spacing between the notches 16 on the workstock 14 may be varied considerably by changing the configuration of the notch forming element 48, and said notches 16 may be provided along both sides of the grating workstock 14 by merely substituting an additional element 48' for the back-up roller assembly 62, as above described, whereby to provide for universality of application.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment illustrated herein is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. In an apparatus for cold forming grating material from workstock of predetermined length and thickness,

a generally cylindrically shaped element having a series of outwardly directed notch forming projections thereon, means for rotatably supporting said element,

guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element, whereby rotation of said member will cause said projections to be forced into the adjacent lateral edge of the workstock to simultaneously form a series of adjacently oriented inwardly recessed notched portions and to cold work the workstock and effect preselected elongation thereof, and

means including roller means for straightening the workstock after formation of the notched portions and for reducing any enlarged thickness thereof caused by formation of said portions back to said original predetermined thickness.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises roller means disposed in spaced generally parallel relation with respect to said element.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned roller means defines an annular recessed portion adapted to partially receive the workstock therein and thereby support the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes means for adjusting the relative axial positions between said element and said last mentioned roller means.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 which includes first and second generally vertically extending spaced parallel shaft means, one of said shaft means adapted to support said rotatable element and the other of said shaft means adapted to support said last mentioned roller means, and spacing means disposed adjacent the ends of said rotatable element and said last mentioned roller means for controlling the relative axial positions thereof.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes workstock feeding means including means for supporting a coil of workstock at a position adapted to feed the workstock into peripheral engagement with said rotatable element.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a plurality of flattening rollers adapted to receive the workstock therebetween for flattening the workstock subsequent to the notched portions being formed therein, and thereby remove any enlarged thickness portions of the workstock produced as a result of said projections on said rotatable element being forced into engagement with the workstock.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 which includes a plurality of edging rollers adapted to engage the laterally outer edges of the workstock and thereby laterally straighten the workstock and assure that the workstock assumes a symmetrical rectangular configuration.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said edging rollers and said flattening rollers are alternatively arranged.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for cutting off segmental sections of the workstock after the notched portions have been formed therein.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 which includes a run-off table means adapted to receive and support the segmental sections of the workstock after the same have been cut-off by said cut-ofi' means.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises roller means disposed in spaced generally parallel relation with respect to said element, wherein said roller means defines an annular recessed portion adapted to partially receive the workstock therein and thereby support the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element, which includes means for adjusting the relative axial positions between said element and said roller means, which includes workstock feeding means including means for supporting a coil of workstock at a position adapted to feed the workstock into peripheral engagement with said rotatable element, which includes alternately disposed edging and flattening rollers and which includes means for cutting ofi segmental sections of the workstock after the notched portions have been formed therein.

13. In an apparatus for cold forming grating material from I elongated, generally flat workstock of predetermined length and thickness,

a generally cylindrically shaped element having a series of outwardly directed projections thereon,

means for rotatably supporting said element,

guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element, whereby rotation of said member will cause said projection to be forced into the adjacent edge of the workstock to simultaneously form a series of adjacently oriented inwardly recessed notched portions and to cold work the workstock and effect preselected elongation thereof,

said guide means including a back-up roller assembly disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to said element, and

means for reducing any enlarged thickness of said workstock produced by formation of said notched portions back to said original predetermined thickness.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said backup roller assembly comprises a generally cylindrically shaped roller defining an annular recess therearound, said recess being adapted to partially receive and support the workstock and thereby assure that the workstock is peripherally engaged with the rotatable element.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 which includes a pair of generally spaced parallel vertically extending shafts, one of said shafts rotatably supporting said element and the other of said shafts adapted to rotatably support said roller, said shafts being spaced apart such that the distance between the innermost portion of said recess and the outer periphery of said rotatable element is proximately equal to the lateral width of the workstock.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 which includes spacing means disposed adjacent the ends of said roller and said rotatable element for selectively adjusting the relative axial positions therebetween.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said other shaft means is adapted to support a second rotatable notch forming element in lieu of said roller, whereby workstock may be passed between said pair of shaft means and have notched portions simultaneously formed along the laterally opposite side edges thereof.

18. In an apparatus for cold forming grating material from elongated strips of generally flat, rectangular cross section workstock,

a generally cylindrically shaped element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending notched forming projections thereon,

means for rotatably supporting said element about a preselected axis,

guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with the workstock,

said guide means comprising a generally cylindrical shaped roller rotatable about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis,

said roller having a circumferentially extending recess extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery thereof adapted for reception of one longitudinal side edge of the workstock, and

means for adjustably positioning said roller axially of said plurality of notch forming projections on said cylindrical member,

whereby when the workstock is fed between said member and said roller and said member is rotated, said projections will be forced into the adjacent lateral edge of the workstock to form a series of adjacently oriented inwardly recessed notched portions and to simultaneously cold work the workstock and effect preselected elongation thereof, with said roller being axially adjustable to vary the axial position at which said projections are engaged with said workstock as the latter is passed between said member and said roller. 

1. In an apparatus for cold forming grating material from workstock of predetermined length and thickness, a generally cylindrically shaped element having a series of outwardly directed notch forming projections thereon, means for rotatably supporting said element, guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element, whereby rotation of said member will cause said projections to be forced into the adjacent lateral edge of the workstock to simultaneously form a series of adjacently oriented inwardly recessed notched portions and to cold work the workstock and effect preselected elongation thereof, and means including roller means for straightening the workstock after formation of the notched portions and for reducing any enlarged thickness thereof caused by formation of said portions back to said original predetermined thickness.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises roller means disposed in spaced generally parallel relation with respect to said element.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned roller means defines an annular recessed portion adapted to partially receive the workstock therein and thereby support the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes means for adjusting the relative axial positions between said element and said last mentioned roller means.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 whiCh includes first and second generally vertically extending spaced parallel shaft means, one of said shaft means adapted to support said rotatable element and the other of said shaft means adapted to support said last mentioned roller means, and spacing means disposed adjacent the ends of said rotatable element and said last mentioned roller means for controlling the relative axial positions thereof.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes workstock feeding means including means for supporting a coil of workstock at a position adapted to feed the workstock into peripheral engagement with said rotatable element.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes a plurality of flattening rollers adapted to receive the workstock therebetween for flattening the workstock subsequent to the notched portions being formed therein, and thereby remove any enlarged thickness portions of the workstock produced as a result of said projections on said rotatable element being forced into engagement with the workstock.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 which includes a plurality of edging rollers adapted to engage the laterally outer edges of the workstock and thereby laterally straighten the workstock and assure that the workstock assumes a symmetrical rectangular configuration.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said edging rollers and said flattening rollers are alternatively arranged.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes means for cutting off segmental sections of the workstock after the notched portions have been formed therein.
 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 which includes a run-off table means adapted to receive and support the segmental sections of the workstock after the same have been cut-off by said cut-off means.
 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises roller means disposed in spaced generally parallel relation with respect to said element, wherein said roller means defines an annular recessed portion adapted to partially receive the workstock therein and thereby support the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element, which includes means for adjusting the relative axial positions between said element and said roller means, which includes workstock feeding means including means for supporting a coil of workstock at a position adapted to feed the workstock into peripheral engagement with said rotatable element, which includes alternately disposed edging and flattening rollers and which includes means for cutting off segmental sections of the workstock after the notched portions have been formed therein.
 13. In an apparatus for cold forming grating material from elongated, generally flat workstock of predetermined length and thickness, a generally cylindrically shaped element having a series of outwardly directed projections thereon, means for rotatably supporting said element, guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with said element, whereby rotation of said member will cause said projection to be forced into the adjacent edge of the workstock to simultaneously form a series of adjacently oriented inwardly recessed notched portions and to cold work the workstock and effect preselected elongation thereof, said guide means including a back-up roller assembly disposed in spaced parallel relation with respect to said element, and means for reducing any enlarged thickness of said workstock produced by formation of said notched portions back to said original predetermined thickness.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said back-up roller assembly comprises a generally cylindrically shaped roller defining an annular recess therearound, said recess being adapted to partially receive and support the workstock and thereby assure that the workstock is peripherally engaged with the rotatable element.
 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 which includes a pair of generally Spaced parallel vertically extending shafts, one of said shafts rotatably supporting said element and the other of said shafts adapted to rotatably support said roller, said shafts being spaced apart such that the distance between the innermost portion of said recess and the outer periphery of said rotatable element is proximately equal to the lateral width of the workstock.
 16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 which includes spacing means disposed adjacent the ends of said roller and said rotatable element for selectively adjusting the relative axial positions therebetween.
 17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said other shaft means is adapted to support a second rotatable notch forming element in lieu of said roller, whereby workstock may be passed between said pair of shaft means and have notched portions simultaneously formed along the laterally opposite side edges thereof.
 18. In an apparatus for cold forming grating material from elongated strips of generally flat, rectangular cross section workstock, a generally cylindrically shaped element having a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending notched forming projections thereon, means for rotatably supporting said element about a preselected axis, guide means for guiding the workstock into peripheral engagement with the workstock, said guide means comprising a generally cylindrical shaped roller rotatable about an axis parallel to said first-mentioned axis, said roller having a circumferentially extending recess extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery thereof adapted for reception of one longitudinal side edge of the workstock, and means for adjustably positioning said roller axially of said plurality of notch forming projections on said cylindrical member, whereby when the workstock is fed between said member and said roller and said member is rotated, said projections will be forced into the adjacent lateral edge of the workstock to form a series of adjacently oriented inwardly recessed notched portions and to simultaneously cold work the workstock and effect preselected elongation thereof, with said roller being axially adjustable to vary the axial position at which said projections are engaged with said workstock as the latter is passed between said member and said roller. 